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Turkey restricts sale of alcohol

Government says new laws will protect youth from harm but opponents accuse them of imposing Islamic agenda

Fri, May 24, 2013, 19:44

The sale of alcohol will be prohibited near mosques and educational centres under new laws passed in Turkey. Photograph: David Jones/PA Wire

Turkey’s parliament has passed a law to ban all advertising of alcohol and tighten restrictions on sales in the mainly Muslim but secular country.

The legislation, adopted today, bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10 pm and 6 am. It also prohibits alcohol sales anywhere close to mosques and educational centres.

The law bars drink companies from promoting their brands and forces the blurring of images of alcoholic drinks on television.

It also brings stricter penalties on drunken driving.

The government says the law is aimed at protecting Turkey’s youth from the harm caused by alcohol but secularist opponents accuse the Islamic-rooted ruling party of gradually imposing an Islamic agenda.

The legislation needs presidential approval before coming into effect.

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